To what extent do the writings of Archbishop Wulfstan of York demonstrate a survival of heathen practices?
Archbishop Wulfstan of York (d. 1023) was one of the most important legal and political thinkers of the early Middle Ages and lived through the political uncertainty of King Æthelred and the Norse invasions resulting in the ascendancy of King Cnut. Although Christianity dominated the country, Wulfstan felt the need to preach and legislate against heathen practices on a number of occasions. The aim of this study is to examine through a study of Wulfstan’s writings the evidence for the survival of heathen practices within the Danelaw. I will study both the writings of Wulfstan and his contemporary Ælfric of Eynsham as well as earlier works that provide crucial background, such as the penitentials as well as later works in terms of two sagas which, although written later provide important context to an earlier time. My analysis demonstrates that the frequency of Wulfstan’s denunciation of heathen practices show that, whilst not his overriding concern, they were sufficiently repeated and their consequence escalated to suggest that not only were the practices in existence, but that previous condemnation had not had an effect.
Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations